Govt mull cloud seedings to combat drought in Tawau - Hajiji

Cloud seeding will be carried out in Tawau if all other efforts cannot overcome the water supply problem in the district due to drought.

State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the state government would discuss the move in the interest of the people if the situation warranted it.

"The state government is aware of the problem of water being faced by the residents of Tawau due to the el-Nino phenomenon," he said.

He said this to reporters after representing Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to open the UMNO Kalabakan Silver Jubilee celebration in the compound of the UMNO Kalabakan Office today.

He urged the people of Tawau to be patient in facing the situation taking place currently.

At present, he said the government endeavoured to meet the water supply needs of the residents in the district by using tanker lorries.

Meanwhile, Tawau Member of Parliament Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh said the construction of a RM400 million dam in Kampung Cinta Mata, which would begin this year, was a long term solution to the problem.